Free trade gone crazy!

I don't usually write about political issues but today I was angered by something I read in the newspaper.

First of all, please go read the story at the Daily Yomiuri or Yomiuri Shimbun websites:

English
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20060803TDY01004.htm

Japanese
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/news/20060802it04.htm

If you cannot read the links, see the bottom of this post for the basic details.


This is TOTALLY unbelievable! I'm sorry to say so, but the US companies/government departments involved in this issue are so SELFISH! I am really, really tired of such things. They are just being bullies {bully} and using their power to get money.

WHY does JR East have to allow international bidding but the USA and France refuse such projects? That is just hypocritical. If it must be allowed in Japan, it should be allowed in other countries too!

The USA forced Japan to accept American beef imports. I don't care about that because customers can decide if they want to eat US beef or not. In the end, each consumer must decide for themself. BUT the Tokyo Station problem is not our choice!

I am angry because the money for rebuilding Tokyo Station should stay in Japan. Japanese people need jobs and Japanese companies need to support the health insurance and pension systems. I am very angry about paying for domestic services (train fares) but the money will go out of this country.

Please don't think I am only attacking America because it is not true. I would be equally as angry if the money went to Australia!!!

*****

* U.S. complaints to the government have forced East Japan Railway Co. to include non-Japanese construction companies in the bidding for a 50 billion yen project to restore Tokyo Station to its original 1914 design, when the station opened.

* The U.S. companies argued the project was initiated by JR East, which is on a list of companies subject to competitive open bidding under the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement (GPA).

* JR East claimed that since its privatization, it was no longer a government organization and, to avoid conflict, has reluctantly invited non-Japanese builders to bid for the project.

* The GPA was designed to allow foreign firms to compete for public works projects over a specified size.

* Since JR East has already been completely privatized, the government feels the railway operator should have been removed from the GPA list.

* The agreement has a clause that exempts projects related to transportation that may affect public safety

* The government says that it is unfair that France's SNCF railway operator and Amtrak of the United States, over which the French and U.S. governments have significant influence, are not included in the GPA list.